Goodbye Ron

We say goodbye to Ron Edwards, a graduate of Coupeville High School (1965?). I knew him from school (an upper classman). He also played drums in the band the Sceptre's in 1968. Later, he was a Deputy Sheriff then a Detective, then moved to California. He got cancer last year and was told in June that he had 6 months to live. In December he wrote a note to my brother on the Caring Bridge Site:

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2007 09:50 AM, CST
Dear Mike, I heard about your site from Pam Young. I am so sorry to hear of your illness. One thing you must do is stay positive and believe that you will get well. It is a real struggle , to say the least. I know somewhat of what hell has been placed in your path but from experience I can tell you, "Don't give up!" not for a moment. The chemo is an awful stuff but it can and does help. Keep eating and keep up your strength. Obviously many people love you and care and that is such a solace to anyone. Always remember that you will beat this, it does not have you.

I remember you as a young man and you don't seem the type to let this thing get the best of you. I have had numerous speed bumps placed in my path over the years but like you my life has been placed in others hands. Six months ago I went to the hospital with what I thought was phnemonia. turned out to be a large tumor in my left lung and cancer of the bones, liver and all. I was much more fortunate than you when it came to them getting me on chemo. When the Doctor told me I had six months I asked that we get started right away and he started that day. That was on June 13th of this year. I am past my six months and I am still here writing this note to you. Anything is possible Mike, this is the voice of experience. Hold your head up, be positve and believe in yourself. You can do it. Once you get over the initial illness of the chemo it will get better. I have found my peace in the fact that so many of the people I knew in my past are back in my life, supporting me and now you are finding the same. God bless you my friend and continue on, and no matter what, NEVER QUIT.

Ron Edwards


He fought to the end and that came today at 12:18 Pacific time.
Goodbye Ron. I'll see you on the other side!!

The sun is back!!

Elliott enjoying a sunbeam on the couch.
Tomorrow I head to Leavenworth. (The town, not the prison).
It is in the Cascade Mountains just East of Stevens Pass. The State Transit systems get together once a year to have a conference on issues dealing with person's with disabilities.
Leavenworth is a Bavarian looking village and is sort of centrally located so all the systems have a chance to get there. Last weekend it would have been hard to get to with all the snow we were having. Today it is 70 degrees and sunny! I will be glad to get off the Island and do something different from the every day stuff here.

My brother is doing better on his new chemo. I don't know if it is shrinking the tumors any, but he is tolerating it much better! Before, he was acting weird and not in focus. Now he is back to being my brother. Sherry and I were talking a few weeks ago and she mentioned that she missed Mike. I asked what she meant, and she said he just isn't the same. He acts doped up (which he is) on the medications. We prayed together and I asked the Lord for healing, but if he won't heal, we'd like to have my brother back, we'd like to have Sherry remember his last days with warmth. Well since he started the new chemo he is actually acting like his old self. Sherry and I hugged each other and said "Thank you Lord". He listens.

Today I am grateful for my brother.

I am leaving after Church tomorrow and will return on Tuesday night. You won't miss me, because I seem to only post once a week or two. But y'all have a good week!!

Is this april?????

Lookie here folks, we have SNOW!! It is APRIL fercrissakes!
I was driving home from my AA meeting tonight and it was hailing, then snowing, then lightening, and 1" of slush on the road. It is 33 degrees now and they are forecasting heavy snow this weekend! WHAAAAAA????? Ok, I'll admit it, I love it. I like anything out of the ordinary. I am a weather freak and always look for extremes. At least we aren't getting tornadoes or earthquakes!
Anyone else getting weird weather?

Sorry I have been absent, I have writers block....actually I have trouble talking too. It seems I can't keep my concentration focused. I was sharing at the AA meeting last week and changed subjects in the middle of a sentence then I heard myself and lost my train of thought. I realized I just interrupted myself so I shared that and shut up. My friend Jane thought that was the funniest thing she has ever heard!! I guess it is kind of funny.

G'nite.

Where have I been?

I see I haven't posted in almost two weeks!
I was busy, then had a few days off and got the crud that is going around. I seem to be greedy and get every germ that passes by me!! I thought it was allergies, but nope! Any way, I am better. I went to the doctor today and he gave me an inhaler to use and told me to rest (yeah, right). So I went back to work and cleaned my office! Yikes, I actually threw away alot of old crap I was saving just because. Well I have no room for that, and all it does is collect dust to irritate my airways, so out they went! Now my boss will come in and ask if I had a certain document or folder or whatever. Please don't be reading this Martha!! {:-)
My brother started his new chemo treatment Monday and seems to sleep alot. It is so hard watching him go downhill. So hard. I posted my feelings on the Caring Bridge site, then Sherry posted her thoughts too. Go visit here: http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mikebrett If you don't want to sign up just use my email address, phyllisbrett1@comcast.net then the password booboo00 the last two 00 are zeros not letters.
So that is where I have been lately. Busy then depressed, but hanging in there. Life goes on, and it is a beautiful Spring day today after the snow around us the past few days!!
And Baseball Season is upon us!! GO MARINERS!!

Good Friday

I had a busy week, and of course my weekend will be just as busy.
Today I cleaned off my desk and actually finished off a bunch of "things to do" that had piled up for the past few months while I was busy training new drivers.
I met a friend for dinner and then went to my AA meeting to help Doreen celebrate 25 years of sobriety!! She was 19 years old when she decided to turn her life around and enter alcoholics anonymous. She is only 44 years old and looks 30! She calls me her sponsor and calls me at least twice a week. That is how you "work the program". You get a sponsor, don't drink, go to meetings and help others that want to get sober. Period. It is that simple. Life has its struggles, and yes you might have suicidal thoughts at times, but do not put alcohol as an option to make things better. Period. We had chocolate cake with peanut butter frosting (YUM) at half time.
I got home at 10:00pm and called a friend from Church and we sat here and watched "The Passion of The Christ". Of course we sat here in total silence with tears rolling down our faces. He died for our sins, folks! As I watched the nails being pounded into his flesh, I felt it! I remembered too many of my sins. I pray and asked forgiveness knowing he died for my sins and I will be accepted in Heaven. That is one thing I am so thankful for with my brother. He is suffering in his Cancer but he has eternal hope! He will die here, but will live on in eternity.
Thank you dear God, Thank you!
Tomorrow I am teaching a First Aid/CPR/AED class for about 30 people at work.

My friend that watched The Passion with me and I are going up to Sunnyside Cemetery Sunday morning at 6:30 to watch the sunrise service put on by the Methodist Church, then have breakfast, then on to our normal 10:00 service at our Church. It sounds weird having a service at the Cemetery but it is on a slope and looks East. Jesus died on a hill so it is actually quite appropriate. If we have an earthquake at that time I will crap my pants!
I will more than likely have a nap after that then on to my brother's house for a late afternoon Easter Dinner. My sister is going to Bellingham to visit with her son that day.
Monday I have off to catch up on some MUCH NEEDED REST!!

I pray you all will have a great Easter weekend!

God Bless.

Frog pond

Where are the frogs? They are oversleeping and not paying attention to the calendar!!

March 8th of every year I can stand on my deck and hear the frog concert from the pond 1/2 mile away. So far this year, no frogs. I drove by the pond last night and opened my car window and heard a few frogs doing a solo, but no chorus line yet. I guess it is too cold for them. It is still in the 30's at night. The trees are late to bloom also and the rose bushes are just starting to get leaves. I guess I better go prune them this weekend.

Tomorrow is Friday, my favorite day of the week!! YIPPEEEE!!

Easter in two weeks!!??

Wow, tonight we set our clocks ahead (why? who the heck knows?!!) Easter is in two weeks. And the Country is still in the middle of Wintery weather!! If there is snow, then the Easter eggs will be much easier to find.
I was driving home today from a luncheon and we saw a yard with clothes out drying on the clothes line. Now that is a rare sight to see. That brought on a conversation of laundry day. I remember using a wringer washer, wringing the clothes into the rinse tub, then wringing them into yet another rinse tub. Then out to the clothes line using wooden clothes pins to keep them on the line. If it started to rain we would run out and grab them really quick or else just leave them out on the line until it clears up and dries them.
After we brought the dry clothes in we would sprinkle the ones to iron using an old pop bottle with a special top on it for sprinkling. After sprinkling the clothes we would roll them up and put them in the basket to iron.
There were no steam irons then, or spray starch. Electric dryers came later as did the fancy washers. Maybe they were already invented, but we sure didn't know about them!! We had white scratchy sheets that were stiff from the lines. (Maybe that is why I spend ALOT of money for my special sheets now). I guess I have turned into a sheet snob. Well heck, I spend 1/3 of my life in bed, why not sleep in comfort and style?
Laundry day now is on Saturdays, and the biggest chore is putting them away. Not anything like we had forty years ago!! Thank the Lord!!
I am keeping up on my Fitness Center! I actually look forward to it now. I try to go at least three times a week, preferably four times a week. I spend at least an hour each time. I use the recumbent bike for 10 minutes then the treadmill for 15 minutes, then upstairs for the 7 different weight machines. I do about 30 revolutions each with 50 pounds. I feel my back building up strength and muscles. Whoopeeee!! I have only needed to use my pain pills once this week!!
This will be a long journey, but well worth it. I hope to keep a steady schedule of this. After the gym, then I really watch what I am eating, knowing how many calories I burned on the machines.
Hope every one has a great week ahead!!

Well I'm sure glad I made that appointment on Monday!!
I woke up and my face was all rashy again and my eyes were really swollen!
I had difficulty breathing and my heart had a few palpitations. I saw the nurse at the diabetes specialist and she told me to quit taking metformin immediately! She gave me a prescription for gliburide and I am to go back to see them in June. So I have a few months to see if I can keep off insulin, but at this point I will do whatever they tell me to do.
I went to pick my brother up at his chemo appointment and when I walked in there I was panting, and the nurse looked at me and asked me if I am like that all the time and I told her no, that I was having a reaction to metformin. She said I was going into anaphylaxis!! I live two blocks from the hospital so I wasn't worried about going home, but I think I better listen more closely to my body for now on.
puffy face,
itchy rashy face, (hives)
constricting throat,
difficulty breathing,
fast heart rate,
palpitations,
Sounds like a severe allergic reaction to me, YA THINK??!! And I teach first aid and was an EMT on an ambulance. DOH! I should've known.

I was out from work for two days and was busy today and tomorrow, but next week I will get back to the Fitness Center! I really liked the feeling after I did an hours workout!

I won't be able to go to my AA meeting tomorrow because my Church is having a "Seder Feast". A Jewish man is coming to give us a teaching on what the Jewish celebrate during the Passover. (I know it isn't Passover yet but this is a teaching). I am bringing the salad. I was going to bring a Greek Salad but it has Feta cheese, and I was told NO DAIRY. Well there goes that idea. Maybe a salad with walnuts and apples in it.

Hope everyone has a great weekend! Spring is sneaking in on us s-l-o-w-l-y.

OW

Well I went to the Fitness Center 4 times this week!!
I am gradually working up to a good routine. I was sick on Wednesday, so I stayed home that day. I went to the doctor and he is sending me to a Diabetic specialist in Bellingham. It seems I have an allergic reaction to Metformin. It began last January a month after I started it. I tried to blame it on the fire I had and the Chlorine in the pool but it is also the medicine. I might have to go back on insulin. I'll find out Monday when I go to the specialist.
Meanwhile, I am really trying to keep the right foods going into this body and EXERCISE!!
It's never too late.
I put myself in God's hands and trust in Him. What will be, will be. He gave me a three year reprieve from insulin, and for that I am grateful.
On to the next phase in my wild & whacky life. It is quite the adventure.

Last night the subject at AA was FEAR.
I shared what I went through for years.
I used to be paralyzed with fear of death. I was afraid of thunder storms, driving, (yes, at one time around 1984 I was petrified of driving a car on the highway)!! I used to come home at night and check all the closets, and under the bed for monsters, then re-check in case someone snuck in behind me. I would lay in bed at night crying and afraid to fall asleep in case I died in the night.
After I was working on my step three "Gave my will and my life over to the care of God as I understood him" Well that little step actually got me thinking of God and what life really is about. When I finally got on my knees and really prayed to God and really gave my life to Him, I finally felt Him inside. I feel loved and protected. I don't feel alone anymore.
I can live my life now.
Since I gave my life to God and the fear left me, I was hired on as an EMT and actually drove an ambulance on the FREEWAY with lights and sirens in rush hour to Seattle Harborview Hospital, I drove a Fire Engine, and then a 40' bus! I now train people to drive 40' buses. I have gone camping alone in the mountains, sleeping in a tent in a lonely campground.
Thank you Alcoholics Anonymous for giving me back my life and bringing me back to God!!
Oh, and by the way, ignore that idiot from my last post. I have no idea who or what it is.

P.S. Go check this out.
I like to read simple little murder mysteries, and Jonne Fluke an author, has an orange cat that is in all her books. She has a site with pictures of kitties. My character Elliott made the list. Go check it out and scroll down. He is about the tenth one down.
http://www.murdershebaked.com/moishe.htm
Have a marvelous week!!

Yep, I did it!!

I joined a fitness center!! Thrive Fitness Center just opened this month and I have a few friends that have joined. I loved the swimming classes, but have a big sensitivity to the chlorine in it so had to quit that. I used to walk three miles after work, but have fallen too many times and caused painful permanent injuries, so I had to quit that too. I LOVE getting the high from exercise, so here I am, trying again!!
I was in Oak Harbor today at quitting time so I stopped at the fitness center to try out the machines for the first time. I put 3 minutes on the elliptical machine, (OUCH) it tightened up my calves into almost a charlie horse, so I went over to the bicycle and put on 5 minutes there. I could feel my legs getting wobbly so I went over to the treadmill and put on 5 minutes there. I don't want to hurt myself the first day, I want to work up to a good work out. I thought that was enough so I was wobbling out the door when my friend Merrily walked in and got all excited to see me! She took me upstairs (I had to pull myself up each step) and she showed me the weight machines. I did 10 cycles on each machine, then noticed I had been there over an hour!! I had to leave to get back to work.
I felt so much better after the workout!! I didn't overdo it, but I did work up a sweat and my legs got wobbly. Tomorrow I will do it again!!
That picture of me gave me the incentive to try and get some of this blubber off this body!!
Whew!! Now to get in my Jetta tub and relax!!

Annual birthday Dinner

My two best friends and I treated ourselves to a birthday dinner Friday night. We have been friends for over 20 years, and get together at least once a year. we all live close (within 2 miles) of each other but we are so busy that we just can't find the right times to get together. I gave up my night af AA for this. The waitress heard it was a birthday celebration so brought us some to die for desserts! The Tiramisu had a great taste, and we realized it had booze soaked in it. Don't worry folks, I will NOT change my AA anniversary date because of that! It's not like I DRANK it for goodness sakes!! Ok, well maybe I did pick up the plate and licked it clean, but I did NOT get drunk on it! Well ok, we did act like teenagers while eating it and giggled our heads off then peed our pants a bit then giggled even louder and more hysterical because we are now OLD and pee our pants every time we get the hysterical giggles!! I told them they make Poise "pull-ups" and maybe we should consider getting some next time we get together!! NOT!!
It is fun having friends to share great times with. Alana is a Paramedic and works odd hours, and Debbie is a housewife that stays busier than any of us! She does alot with the Church and goes to alot of different meetings, then there's me.

I took over some Gatorade to my brother. He is sick again. It seems to hit him a week after his chemo treatment. Gatorade replenishes the electrolytes you lose when you get dehydrated from throwing up. Bananas are good for the stomach and has potassium, so I told Sherry to make sure he eats a banana once in awhile. Bless his heart.

We finally had a sunny day today and what did I do? SLEPT!! I came home from Church and laid down to read and woke up two hours later. It's a good thing I did, because Elliott came in from outside and jumped up on my pillow and proceeded to throw up all over my pillow and bottom sheet. (He always seems to run to me when he is getting sick, and cries, too like a little kid)! So I am now washing the sheets again!
Cats like to eat grass to loosen up the innards and get rid of hairballs in their tummies. They usually pick the weirdest places to do it too. Like your pillow, a pair of shoes, even my purse once. (or was it Mary Lou's)? Ahh, but we love our cats!!
Well time to get ready for another week of work.
Hi Ho!!!

Been busy

Well there really isn't any big excuse for not blogging, but I have been rather busy lately. I have been training 5 new Operators and in a few more weeks will train more. This seems to be a full time job lately plus my other duties. We are growing faster than we can keep up with! I love it though. No complaints here.

My brother seems to be holding his own. Nothing new to report.

The weather has been WET!! Cold and WET!! Brrr, WINDY and WET!! Typical fer here.

That's it, folks. Nothing exciting to report. I did have to change out my hot water heater elemant AGAIN!! Twice in a year. Sheesh, the water around here eats up elements!
I went to the caucus yesterday. We found out by watching the news that we need to go to the caucus in order for our vote to count. WHAT??? They mailed out absentee ballots to everyone in the State then they tell us the vote doesn't count? The Democrat party decided to go by way of caucus only, and the Republicans are taking a percentage of both the causcus and votes. That doesn't sound legal to me, but what the heck, I'm just a dumb ole country folk who's opinion doesn't matter!! Crap, I feel like we are losing our voting privileges!! Why vote?
Anyone else frustrated out there?

Happy Birthday to Me!!

Thanks for the Birthday Greetings everyone!!
I had a busy day at work. About 9:00 my sister called me and told me Mike was sick again and she was going to go "brother sit" him. I called her back about an hour later and asked her how many times he was sick. She said he got sick about every hour since 1:00am. I told her he needed to get some electrolytes in him and some Pottasium. She took him into the ER and spent most of the day there and he got home about 2:30. Dangit, I hate this! I wish they could send some I.V. solution home and I can go hang it for him when he gets that sick instead of wearing him out taking him to the hospital! I'll check into that.

I got off work at 4:30 and had to go to a meeting tonight for a new group. I call them the "granolas". You know the type...half the cars had bumper stickers "Liberal and proud of it", I think I was the only gal there that had make-up on. They were probably all thinking "She is wearing lipstick and they kill whales to make lipstick"! I also had groceries in my car in plastic bags and the subject tonight was making plastic bags illegal in Washington State! Well okay, then lets kill all them trees for paper bags!! No, they want all of us to carry our own canvas bags.
They also passed around a paper about making it illegal to sell water in plastic 8 ounce bottles. Oh fer craps sakes you guys, so let's all drink beer in aluminum cans and toss them out our car windows!! I came home after the meeting and flushed my toilet about 10 times just to make up for all the water they saved today!!
I worked with a Paramedic that is a vegetarian and he conserved everything! He would not flush the toilet! "If it's yellow let it mellow, if it's brown flush it down". So everytime I saw the yellow toilet water I'd flush it three times and really piss him off!! We called him the "Veg-o-medic".

Okay, I vented. I really didn't want to go to that meeting tonight but I did. They are people that are really concerned about the world and I respect that. I'm concerned too. In fact we all should be concerned....BUT NOT ON MY BIRTHDAY!!!!
Hehehe I feel better now. If this post disappears then you'll know it got read by the wrong person and I needed to get rid of the evidence!

I've been tagged!

Donna tagged me to list 5 things about me, so here goes nuthin!

1. I am a divorced 58 year old HAPPY woman.

2. I am a Christian.

3. I have no children.

4. I work fulltime as Service Development Administrator at Island Transit.

5. I have been clean and sober for 20 years and 7 months.

Wow, now wasn't that exciting!

OK, now she has a meme to list 7 weird things about me!

1. I find everything funny. (really)

2. I read murder mysteries.

3. When I use toilet paper I have to have it rip off straight, and the roll needs to have the paper with the flap over, not under.

4. I HATE all the new REAL t.v. stuff.

5. I love to watch all the Disney movies, like Shrek, etc.

6. I love to travel to Alaska on the Ferry leaving Bellingham and sleep up on the solarium deck.

7. I overdo everything I get involved in. (That is why I am in AA)

I won't tag anyone, so if you want to join in on the fun, go for it!

Aren't they adorable?!
I was training new drivers and we drove by one of the trainees farm and she showed us her "boys". Tanqueray is tha fuzzy headed one in front. I forgot the other one's names. They are so cute! She sells the wool and my Niece spins her own , so I found a contact for her to buy fresh Alpaca wool!

Friday morning I got a call at 6:00am and it was Sherry, my brother's wife telling me she took him in the ER. He was having severe stomach pain!
I have the story on the Caring Bridge Site just click on that, give your email address, then pick a password and you can visit any time for updates.
If you don't want to visit the site, the short of it is: They did xrays and saw he had a severe blockage and thought they needed to do a colostomy. Later they did more tests and decided it was not the cancer this time, it is internal blockage. They pumped him up big time with prune juice, enemas, etc. He gets to go home tomorrow. The poor guy was so miserable and in so much pain!!
Thank you everyone for all the prayers. God does listen!

Well it is 35 degrees and raining here! They predicted snow but we get what we get here, and it is mostly cold miserable slushy rain!
I'll take that thank you!

Have a marvelous Sunday!

YIPPEEEE!!

I got my Tax Return!!!
It only took 1 week from when I filed it online, to when they deposited it in my account.
YAY! Now I pay off my little bills and my house taxes and car tabs!! I might even fill up my gas tank in my car!!

I just heard on the news that I will be getting $600.00 back by May! Well if that is true then I will get a 32" HDTV. Yes, I will put it back into the economy.

What will you do with yours?

Tax Returns?!?!

Okay, is it me or is everyone else stumped about filing their taxes this year?
Every year I get a book in the mail and I follow the instructions and call the number and get my tax returns in a few weeks.
I have always filed the 1040E-Z
I have not received anything from the IRS yet. Is there a secret I don't know about? I have my W-2 statement and would LOVE to send in my stuff so I can get my returns!!
HELP!! Anyone out there know what to do?

Well my impatience got to me so I asked Google and he helped me find the "My1040EZ" site Whew! I did it and filed in 10 minutes. Now I will see if it really worked.

Dinner out

I took my sister out for dinner for her birthday. Her birthday was yesterday but she went out with Bob last night so I took her out tonight. I called Catmomaj, and two of her friends from the playhouse, my brother and Sherry, and Mary Lou's daughter Donna. I was going to call a few more but when I called Mary Lou to ask for Catmomaj's phone number, Mary Lou asked why, then she said YOU BETTER NOT BE PLANNING A SURPRISE PARTY, I HATE THEM!! So I told her I was going to, but now I'm not. She said she HATES big groups, and especially big groups of a surprise party for her. So HMMPPFF! I stopped at 8 people. Sorry Dick, I really was going to call you because we went to Johnny Carino's in Burlington.

It has been a busy week and I will busy for the nest three weeks, so I will get as much rest as I can tomorrow.
We gotta catnap when we can at our age!! hehehehe
Have a great week!

In a study of 200,000 ostriches over a period of 80 years, no one reported a single case where an ostrich buried its head in the sand.

Happy Birthday Mary Lou!!

It's my sister's (Mary Lou) Birthday today!

Run over and wish her a happy birthday!!

Well, Hello 2008!!

You came in with such force, I am inspired by what you will be bringing us this year!!
We have had high wind warnings just about every day so far this month. Now they are threatening us with snow. But I am ready!
I am ready for anything you throw my way! The trials of last year has only strengthened my Faith, and has made me ready for ANYTHING!!
I trust in the Lord with all my soul. My life is His and I pray I can live in His will. Whatever happens, I will trust that it is for a reason and I am not to ask what the reason is, but accept it. I am not saying I will not be sad, or grieve, or cry, but I will accept this year as it is, and live accordingly.
I have a great prayer group and we give each other strength, which we will be needing during this year of elections!
This Country needs a strong leader and I pray that we elect the right one to do the job. Not the one that looks the best, is the right sex, is a certain race, a certain political party, has more experience, is a certain religion, but the one God chooses to do the job. Whoever is elected we need to rally around and accept the choice and back that person, not stand on corners with sorrowful angry looks on our faces holding a wimpy sign.
We need to be part of the solution!
"What can I do to help out this situation",
not... "I hate what happened, do something!!"
We have a rough ride ahead this year, so be prepared, folks! Be prepared. For ANY kind of emergency. Man made, weather, earthquakes, riots, or just personal problems. Find a place to worship and strengthen your soul. Offer help at soup kitchens, the Red Cross, food banks, Fire Departments, whatever. be part of your Community!
Okay, I'm through with my tirade. I just feel all pumped up with strength and ready to face the world!!
TA DA!!

God Bless

Goodbye 2007!!

Wow, just when I get used to writing down 2007, the year ends and 2008 is here! How can that be? How did I get so old? Actually it is amazing I lived this long with the wild life I have lived teetering right on the edge of disaster. My sister can avow to that. I have been an adrenaline junkie my entire life, and now all I want to do is sit back and crochet. I was doing just that tonight. I did not even get dressed today! I changed my sheets and did my laundry, but that is about it. I took a long soak in the tub about 9:30 and got into a clean nightie.

2007 was a sad year for many of us. It started out here with a big slam of a storm that put our power out on the 2nd the 5th and the 9th of January. We got 6" of snow on the 10th then we got a deep freeze here for a week. Our Pastor left us without any notice which left us all feeling like an abandoned herd of sheep.

A friend of mine (Dee Couture)died of cancer on the 14th.

On the 21st my hot water heater caught on fire, and thank God I was sitting right near it and saw the flames shooting straight up!

I started water aerobics in February getting 5 other friends and my sister to go with me. (I found out after about a month that I am allergic to the chlorine they use in the pool and it ate my face up). My sister still goes, and she is doing GREAT!! I am so proud of her. She has slimmed down and it has done her wonders.

We got more snow On Feb 28 and March 1st. We had another big blow of a storm on March 11th that put our power out again!

In April we said good bye to Esther's husband "Rocky". He put up a huge battle against cancer. He was an inspiration to anyone that met him or read about him!!

In June we said goodbye to Esther's cousin Dale. Another blogger friend, and I miss his humor and wit. He was found dead in his house.

In July we got a new Pastor and he is great!

In August I had my 40th class reunion. (All the parents showed up but not my classmates)!! At least it seemed that way, everyone but me got old and fat!!
(yeah, right).
On August 23rd we lost a good friend Ellen. She fought that demon called cancer for years, and lost her battle!! She too is an inspiration and we all miss her dearly!

October took two dear AA friends of mine. Ken Michaels and Diana Sandritter. They too fought the cancer demon and lost.
October 4th my brother was diagnosed with peritoneal cancer. He was operated on October 19th and they said they could not operate. He has inoperable adenocarcinoma of the peritoneum that has metastisized. They started treatment December 3rd after three missed appointments that the doctors forgot about!!!!

October 23rd I lost another friend to cancer. He was a Paramedic here on Whidbey Island.

December 15th my brother was taken by ambulance to the hospital after 12 hours of puking his innards out. He stayed for two days.

And one of the saddest things, on December 15th a 15 year old girl got of a bus and was hit by a car as she was walking on the highway. She did not see the car for some odd reason, and the car could not see her as she was wearing dark clothes and it was dark. She was killed instantly. She had been Christmas shopping in Oak Harbor. I know the guy that was driving the car and he of course is not taking this well at all.

So....as you can see, I am glad to see 2007 leave!! I did not lose my Christmas spirit through all of this, in fact it has made my Faith much stronger! We have a huge battle to fight with my brother this year, and will gladly accept any and all prayers!! He had a CT scan on his brain two days ago and they called him back in for another one today because they found some suspicious spots. We will find out next week what they found. Meanwhile, we are taking one day at a time here and praising God for everything He has given us!
I hope everyone has a SAFE new years eve!!
I will be at home on my knees praying the new year in.

God Bless

Another Blustery Wintry December Day!

I took my 91 year old neighbor shopping today and drove to the Ferry Landing to watch the passenger ferry pull in, but it wasn't running. The wind was too strong.
You can see the waves hit the breakwater and fly away in the wind.
This is one of our bus Operator's waiting for the ferry that didn't arrive. They resumed service after the storm calmed down. We get alot of wind here, and I never tire of sitting at the beach watching the waves.
Well I am about ready for Christmas. I go tro Church tomorrow morning then to a funeral at 1:00, then my boss and her family are coming over to exchange gifts, then I will spend the rest of the day making 3 big baked spaghetti casseroles to take to work. The bus wash crew asked me for baked spaghetti for Christmas. They work their butts off in all kinds of weather, so that is no sacrifice to me! Here is one of 'em sneaking into my candy jar (which I keep full just for them).

Merry Christmas everyone!!

A-Christmas-Caroling!!

Another tough day at work! We work hard, so then we can play hard.
A bunch of us got all decked out and went Christmas Caroling!
We piled in a small bus and went to the County Courthouse to serenade them.
The local Police cruised by to be sure we were within the noise level. He covered his eyes and shook his head and drove off!
We traipsed down Front Street, stood in the Tavern and sang a song and went back to work.
We aren't afraid to say MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

My Brother Mike

My brother is the one in the white T-shirt. Sherry's brother is the other guy.

Sherry my brother's wife called me this morning to tell me she might not be able to come to the lunch we were going to have today with our Bible Study friends. She said she was up all night with my brother Mike. He got sick last night and was puking for 4 hours straight then she called the ambulance. I went to see him in the hospital and he was in alot of pain. They are keeping him tonight and maybe tomorrow too. His second chemo treatment will be on Tuesday. We are worried about him because he has trouble keeping anything down.
I'm not ready for this. I want to keep my baby brother for another few years. My heart breaks when I see him in so much pain. Poor Sherry is broken hearted too. She loves him so much even after 32 years of marriage!
Mike's son Galen and his future wife Sumre came over to see him and I cooked them all dinner. My poor sister Mary lou is taking this very hard. We want to do something for him, but there isn't anything we can do! We are helpless here. We'll get through this. Mary Lou went shopping for a Christmas tree for herself and brought Mike & Sherry a little 4 foot tree. They are thrilled with it!! Mike usually goes out in the woods and comes home with a little scrawny "Charlie Brown" Christmas tree, so this is a TREAT!!
Mike is sure seeing and feeling the love from friends, and even people that he doesn't even know. My next door neighbor's family pooled together and gave Mike & Sherry some money. That sure came at the right time! Sherry just sent off some bills with a letter saying this is all she can pay right now and had only $26.00 for the rest of the month! Other people are being generous too. People are bringing over cord wood and stacking it for them to heat their house, others have brought over food. My heart is full right now.
I just don't know what to blog about right now so I will say goodnight.
God loves you. Trust in Him and all will be well.

I created a CaringBridge site to keep you up to date on Mike Brett. CaringBridge is a nonprofit organization that helps friends and families stay connected.

You can visit Mike's CaringBridge site at http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/mikebrett.

If your e-mail program does not allow you to click on the above link, just copy and paste the address into your web browser's address (or URL) location.

Please visit our CaringBridge site anytime. You can use the site to check in on Mike, read the journal entries and send us messages by signing our guestbook. When you register with CaringBridge and sign our guestbook, you will automatically receive e-mail notifications each time our journal is updated. Or, you can subscribe to receive these notifications even before you sign the guestbook. (Of course, you can unsubscribe from these e-mail updates at any time.)

Oooops. Poor guy needs a new car!

I was driving back to work Thursday afternoon and came across this car fire.
I saw the black smoke and knew it was a bad one. When I came up on it I took the picture as I was passing it. The heat was intense! I got back to work and called the Editor of the paper and told him I had some pictures of the car fire and he told me to email them to him and he'd put them in the Wednesday paper.



I have no idea what happened, but this Jeep Wrangler is no longer.

I sure hope everyone is staying warm and safe.

In the 60's, people took LSD to make the world weird.
Now the world is weird and people take Prozac to make it normal.

I got elfed!!

Ok, I can't help but share this fun site Office Max put on!
Click here
What fun I had tonight putting friends faces in the elf and sending it on!!
Have fun!!

Old Man Winter has arrived!!

I know December 21st is the official start of Winter, but today it arrived!! We had wet snow flying sideways in the wind but not sticking. We are having major snow in the mountains which is great for the skiiers, but bad for Monday when the warmer weather gets here and melts it all and floods the lowlands.
But this is something that happens alot here. Very seldom do we get snow that sticks and stays for a few days. Maybe in January or February. We'll see.
Today was the Christmas Parade in Coupeville (which I was late getting to) We had a bus in there all decorated. Dang, I wanted to get a picture of it! I got stuck in Oak Harbor doing some last minute shopping for the weekend.
The weather was too windy for the annual boat parade. Too bad, it makes the festivities more exciting. But I guess it would be really exciting if we had a boat rescue during it, huh?
We are supposed to get more of this wintry weather tomorrow and high winds into Monday. I have my candles, propane, food cooked. I'm ready!!

This is a photo from the web.
I decorated my house tonight, so I am all ready for Christmas now!!

Are you prepared for Winter disasters? Can you survive in your house for a week?
You better get your supplies in your car too in case you get stranded anywhere.
Better be safe than sorry!!

Leftovers???

Ahh, the food was great!! My favorite part of the turkey is the crispy skin!! YUM!
Okay, so it isn't the best for you, but it is good! I must be part southern or somethin!
Last night I was reading in bed and had the great idea to get a big honkin turkey sandwich with cranberry sauce. I jumped out of bed, opened the refrigerator and realized I don't have any turkey!! DANG, I went to my sister's house and didn't bring any leftovers home. I left all my goodies there but didn't grab some white meat for a sandwich. Oh well, I guess today I'll cook the 12# turkey I bought the other day for $3.00!! Yep, 23 cents a pound. Good ole Albertson's!

So what is your favorite left over recipe?

I have two...Turkey salad is one.
Chop up the leftover turkey pieces (white & dark), chop up a small sweet pickle, chop up some celery, salt pepper and mayonnaise. The restaurant I worked at in 1967 always had turkey salad sandwiches the day after turkey dinner and it always sold out. I like to put jellied cranberry sauce on the sandwich too.

My other favorite is turkey enchiladas.
get flour tortillas, limp them in hot oil and pat dry, put chopped white turkey, and some shredded cheese,some chopped onions (or not) roll them up and place them in a casserole dish. Fill the dish, then pour a can of green chili enchilada sauce over it, cook in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes or so. Put sour cream over the entire top of the casserole then top off with more grated cheese. Put back in the oven and bake until cheese is melted and bubbly.
I can't wait.

Well I am off to Mount Vernon to Costco. WHY?......just 'cause.

The 1863 Lincoln Presidential Proclamation

This was taken from christiananswers.net/q-wall/wal-alincoln-tgiving.html

Following is the 1863 Lincoln Presidential Proclamation - celebrated shortly after Lincoln committed his life to Christ and celebrated while America was still in the midst of its Civil War. It was this proclamation which eventually led to the establishment of our national Thanksgiving holiday.

by the President of the United States of America

The year that is drawing toward its close has been filled with the blessings of fruitful years and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the Source from which they come, others have been added which are of so extraordinary a nature that they can not fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever-watchful providence of Almighty God.

In the midst of a civil war of unequaled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign states to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere, except in the theater of military conflict, while that theater has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.

Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the field of peaceful industry to the national defense have not arrested the plow, the shuttle, or the ship; the ax has enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than theretofore. Population has steadily increased notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege, and the battlefield, and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years with large increase of freedom.

No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.

It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently, and gratefully acknowledged, as with one heart and one voice, by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow-citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next as a day of thanksgiving and praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it, as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes, to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquility, and union.

In testimony wherof I have herunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

[Signed]
A. Lincoln

I noticed more history of Thanksgiving here. Interesting reads.

Sit back and take a deep slow breath.
Again.
Now take a few minutes and reflect on the past year and your life and find the things you are thankful for. I have many!!
I pray everyone has a blessed and SAFE Thanksgiving!!

How sad

It saddens my heart to read that some insane spammer has found my blog and started spamming me. Good grief, What ever did I do to him? I cancelled my last post because of it.

Update on my brother....

My sister took my brother to the surgeon on Wednesday, and he was refered to the oncology clinic for Chemo..

As she says on her post: "It is bad, but not hopeless...It is an adrenocarcinoma, which started on his apendix and then grew from there. It is tons of little cells like bubbles growing everywhere.

WORST CASE is the tumor can say UH UH no chemical cocktails here, and grow agressively, and then he might have 6-9 months, but the Dr does not think that will happen. He THINKS that the Chemo will retard the growth, and then MAY just stall there for awhile. It will Never go away, but it could buy him YEARS!"

He goes to the Oncologist and his first chemo treatment on the 13th. We will know more then.

We just never know what life brings us each day. We wake up one day and life as we know it is no more. We could get in a car accident, have a stroke, a heart attack. My brother is going through a depression (totally understandable) and it is my job to help him live his life each day as if he will live, and not looking towards dying.

We will cross that bridge when it gets here, in God's time.

He has been visited by many folks and has a whole bunch of people praying for him and Sherry. That alone is healing for the soul. I thank every one of you for your prayers. He feels them that is for sure.

Tonight is my FAVORITE night of the year. I get my hour back that they stole from me when they set the clocks ahead in the Spring!! I feel sleep deprived for months after that!! Now I will feel rested. I wish they would find a time and LEAVE IT THERE!! The cows don't give a hoot what the clocks say....they need milked when they are ready! The kids have lighter mornings for a few more weeks, but darker afternoons. SO WHAT!! SHEESH.

Well, on that happy note....have a great weekend!!

TRICK-OR-TREAT!!

My favorite little girls stopped by for their trick-or-treats!
Scarey, huh? Fancy candy bags too!!

They are so precious. They are always happy and full of mischief. They are the only trick-or-treaters I've had tonight. I used to get alot of kids, but now they have the town close off the main street and all the merchants hand out candy, and the school has a harvest party going on, put on by the local Churches. So much safer.

I hope every has a fun and safe Halloween tonight! Hang garlic on your doors.

I have been bad at posting....Nothing much to say.
I cannot blog about work, and that takes up a third of my life, the other third is sleeping and the rest is busy.
My brother goes to the doctor on Wednesday to see what kind of treatment they will give him.
I will update later.
Until then, have a great week!!

My baby brother....

These past two days have been surreal.
I picked my brother (Mike) and his wife (Sherry)up at 8:00 Friday morning and took them to Providence Hopital in Everett.
Mike has had stomach problems for months and they finally did some extensive tests and found some "suspicious masses" in his peritoneal area.
Friday morning they went in three different places with a laproscope and camera and biopsied the masses. They told Sherry that the procedure should only take about an hour and a half. He went to the operating room at 12:30, and at 2:30 Sherry and I looked at each other and said "Dang, this doesn't feel right". About three o'clock the doctor came out and told us they found numerous little tiny masses in the area and they are cancer. He said they cannot operate to take them out as there are thousands of them. They are around his colon, appendix, pancreas, everywhere. He said the only hope (if any) is chemotherapy, and that will only prolong it. I asked how long, and he just stared at me. I asked "Weeks? Months? Years?" He could only shrug his shoulders. This type of cancer is very rare. It is mostly found in women.
Mike stayed in the hospital overnight and came home this morning.
Sherry, bless her heart stayed at the hospital with him right by his side.
She was devastated when we were told. She started crying and said "how can I go on without him?" They have been married for 32 years. I told my brother that he is a very very lucky guy. He has a woman that has loved him unconditionally for 32 years. That is a love we ALL search for in our lives. His son Galen is 30 years old and is a good man. He brought Mike and Sherry home this morning.
Mike has a doctor's appointment on Friday and will get more answers then. In the meantime it is a waiting game.
Prayers are good. He keeps his Faith and that is good. It gives him hope for Heaven. He has alot of questions, and had been agnostic most of his life. He accepted Christ a few years ago and was Baptized in the ocean two years ago. His Church will bring them food and some wood for their woodstove. People are offering help with transportation to and from treatments. Mike knows how loved he is, and is on his knees with gratitude. Times like this brings phone calls and cards out of the woodwork and feeds the soul. Thank you everyone for all the prayers. Please keep them coming as there is always hope....he hasn't started treatment yet, and who knows...God can still work His miracles.
What ever the outcome, I am so thankful for the time I have with my brother.
I love him dearly.
I wish I could fix him.
I wish it was me and not him.
Really.

Mushroom

Never in my life have I seen such a HUGE mushroom. I was training three new drivers today and as we were pulling up to a bus stop I saw this 8" in diameter mushroom right at the stop!!
Of course we picked it and brought it back to the base but they threw it away because it was poisonous. It sure was pretty though.

Today we lost our power about 3:30 for an hour. Our first storm of the season and lost our power already. I'm keeping track this time. They said there were 13 reported outages last season. I guess the midwest got quite a storm too. I hope everyone is okay out there!!
Time for bed, I am taking my brother to the hospital tomorrow. I'll report when I get back.

We know exactly where one cow with mad-cow-disease is located among the
millions and millions of cows in America, but we haven't a clue as to
where thousands of Illegal immigrants and Terrorists are located. Maybe we
should put the Department of Agriculture in charge of immigration.

Look out, here comes the winds!

Well tomorrow we are anticipating strong winds and heavy rain. We'll see what really hits us. Sometimes when they predict a dangerous storm, we get nothing. But just in case, all my flashlights have fresh batteries, candles are out and I found some matches.
Here is what they predicted:
Forecast for Admiralty Inlet Area (that's me)

High Wind Warning in effect from 6 am to 6 PM PDT Thursday...

Thursday
Rain in the morning...then showers in the afternoon. Very windy. Highs in the upper 40s to mid 50s. Southeast wind 30 to 40 mph with gust to 60 mph.
Ok, brace yourselves!
I actually like storms. I love to drive out to the beaches and watch the huge waves hit the driftwood and splash over the roads. I like to watch the eagles and seagulls fly in place against the wind. I like it when the lights flicker and I light the candles and bundle up with a good book. Well I don't bundle up with the book, it would be a bit scratchy, I use my down throw to bundle up with and grab a good book to read.
I don't like the damage to personal property and injuries to people.
Well I must get to bed and get some great sleep before the big storm tomorrow!

All of us could take a lesson from the weather.
It pays no attention to criticism.

Hodge-Podge

The spiders are out and the fog has settled in. It was 38 degrees last night when I went to bed about midnight. The Canadian Geese are here for the Winter I believe, as they fly over my house every morning and evening. I love their sound.

I had a busy week at work, and went to AA last night to get "re-charged". My friend Ken that I blogged about on Aug 31 passed away on Sunday morning. We will miss him dearly. He was the "Rock" at our AA meetings. He had 28 years sobriety and hardly ever missed a Friday night. He was there for the newcomers when they walked in the doors and he offered them coffee, showed them a chair and gave them a list of phone numbers to call for support. He made everyone feel welcome when they walked in the doors. He will be up at them "Pearly Gates" to greet us when we pass on to the next life.

I went to lunch today with a group of AA gals and had some fun. Now I am tired and ready for a nap.

I read Leslie's blog last night and my heart dropped to my toes. She had some bad news from her doctor. Go read her message. Please keep her in your prayers for a complete healing! Dang, I hate to hear news like that!! She is a strong gal and will beat this I'm sure.
Well on that note I will close for the day, and leave you with this funny I got in an e-mail:

A lady walked into a Lexus dealership just to browse.

Suddenly she spotted the most beautiful car that she had ever seen and walked over to inspect it. As she bent forward to feel the fine leather upholstery, an unexpected little fart escaped. Embarrassed, she anxiously looked around to see if anyone had noticed and hoped a salesperson hadn't been near. But, as she turned back, there, standing next to her, was a salesman.


With a pleasant smile he greeted her, 'Good day, Madame. How may we help you today?' Trying to maintain an air of sophistication and acting as though nothing had happened, she smiled back and asked, 'Sir, what is the price of this lovely vehicle?' Still smiling pleasantly, he replied, 'Madame, I'm very sorry to say that, if you farted simply from touching it, you are going to shit when you hear the price.'

'Tis that time of year again.

My goodness this week just FLEW by!! It doesn't pay to take two weeks off of work....I went back and had two weeks of work waiting for me plus more!!
I'm not complaining one bit. I hate to be bored, and I sure wasn't this week!

Our town has a scarecrow contest every October, and we put in a great display this time. We have about 4 new employees that are really enthusiastic and jumped in and designed this display. I guess it is a wizard that zapped a pumpkin into a bus.
We'll see how we place in the contest in a few weeks.



My brother Mike had some disturbing news this week. He has some mysterious masses in his peritoneal area in his stomach, and they need to go in and operate to take them out on the 19th. The doctor told him it looks like cancer and they will see if it is malignant when they operate. So anyone that prays, I am asking for prayer power here.
CNN had an article a while back on prayers in hospitals and the doctors do believe they work. (I know they work). I love my baby brother and don't want to see him sick! This will be a very long two weeks!!

I hope everyone enjoys the weekend!

Here's some interesting facts:
It is physically impossible for pigs to look up into the sky. (Huh?)

A pregnant goldfish is called a twit. (uh, ok....why?)

A perfect Autumn Saturday Afternoon!

The wind is BLUSTERY, light rain, 50 degrees, a big soft purring cat on my lap, what more can I ask for? Ah, maybe I'll put on a pot of stew!
I sure hope everyone else is as comfy and content as I am right now!


Give a person a fish and you feed them for a day;
teach a person to Use the internet and they won't bother you for weeks.

My "Felted Purse"

This is my first attempt at felting a purse. This is the before picture. I crocheted a purse 27' wide by 17' deep with wool yarn. I then threw it in the washer with the hottest water and washed it. It shrunk to nearly half it's size (which I wanted).
I made the handle first and washed it and it didn't shrink very much length wise but shrank half it's size in width. I sewed the handle on with a pocket in it for a cell phone. I sewed the handle all around the purse for sturdiness. The top was warped which disappointed me, but I sewed a gather at the top and I like the outcome. I had some left over from the handle and made a pocket in the inside. I used some velcro to close it. I cut a strip of the loopy side and folded it over glue side to glue side, and it works GREAT as a closure on top. It took 8 2 and a half balls of Lion Brand "Lion Wool Prints" yarn to make the purse, and about 4 days.
TA-DA.

Some people are like a slinky...
Not really good for anything,
but you still can't help but smile when you shove them down the stairs.

Lessons from my cat

This vacation is for me. To rest and just do things on a whim. Today was a day of rest! My cat has taught me to just hang out and sleep! He can make napping look so comfortable! I woke up today at noon (went to bed at 3:00am) I did some crocheting then laid down and woke up at 5:00pm!! I must've needed it!
I went to bed at 1:00am and cannot sleep (I wonder why) so I came in to the computer and noticed Elliott on my living room pillows all sprawled out!
This is how he sleeps. He is warm all the time with all his fur, so when he sleeps he sprawls out to cool off I guess. But he sure makes me smile! This is a happy house!
Okay, time to go to bed and have some happy dreams!!

Good health is merely the slowest rate at which one can die.

YIKES!!!

We NEVER get thunder and lightning storms, but today I was sitting at my computer and the sky got dark, and the rains came. It poured like it pours in the East. (we usually get drizzle). I was standing on my deck at noticed there was ice pellets in the rain. I went back in and was again sitting at my computer and FLASH, KABAM...CRACKLE...POP!! Then the phone rang. I answed saying HOLY CRAP!! My sister didn't know what I meant, then I told her. Then Elliott came running inside faster than he ever ran, his hind legs in front of him he was running so fast...hair sticking out like a Christmas tree!! HAHAHAHA He is laying next to me now all cuddly and warm. The big pussy!!
Stay safe.

Cooler weather brings out the roses! I took this picture early this morning with last night's rain still on the flowers. I went to my mammogram appointment at 7:15 AM, then came home to take a nap at 8:30 and woke up at 1:00pm! Well that was fine.
I went in to Mount Vernon and ordered two pair of eyeglasses at Costco, did some shopping and got home at 8:30PM!
That takes care of my first official day of vacation! Nope....did not even start in my spare room. Wait a minute....yes I did! I emptied the trash can last night so there, I started!!
hehehehe

Interesting fact: Like fingerprints, everyone's tongue print is different.Hmmm, now that is good to know! I'll remember not to lick the butter when I break into someone's house!

Calgon......Take me Away!!

YIPPEEE SKIPPEEEE....YABBA DABBA DOOBBIE....YAHOOOOO....NANNER, NANNER, NANNER!!
HEEHEE...HAHA...HOHO...!!
I have two whole weeks off!!! I love my job, but I get two weeks of sleeping in each day, hanging around, cleaning out my constant cluttered room, get in the car and just GO when I feel like it!! Well almost, Monday I have a 7:30 AM Mammogram appointment. 7:30 AM, WHAT WAS I THINKING??!! Thursday I am having a Silpada Silver Jewelry party. That should be fun.
My cluttered room....It seems the more I clean and rearrange and try to dispose of, it gets MORE cluttered! I have an 11x11foot spare room which is my garage, hobby room, Library and Computer room. I store my Christmas decorations and other "stuff" in my closet, I have shelves on each wall and STILL no room to put things!!
SEE?!




Ok, I just shamed myself! I better get to work on it so I can take "after" pictures!!
Time to get to my AA meeting!!

Now you know...Most lipstick contains fish scales.YIKES!

Another day in Paradise!

What can I say, but................AHHHHHHHHHhhhhhhhhhh.


23% of all photocopier faults world-wide are caused by people sitting on them and photocopying their butts.

The weekend is over

Ahhh, I had a 2 hour nap today. It felt great!
Yesterday's Luncheon was a HUGE success! We had 106 gals show up. The biggest one yet. They came from Duvall, Seattle, Marysville, Vashon Island, Orcas Island, Freeland, Clinton, Langley, Anacortes, Sedro Wooley, Mount Vernon, Burlington, Kirkland, Custer....and many more. It started out as a small get together for women in Alcoholics Anonymous on Whidbey Island here 23 years ago. It grew and we handed it to the South Whidbey group to take over with about 35-40 gals attending in the Methodist Church in Langley. They handed it back to us (me) in 2004 and that year 55 attended and we were excited. The next year was 75, last year 95, and this year 106!! The CPO Club can have about 200 total so we are safe for a few more years. Some people think it is hard to put one together. I put together a "tickler" book the first year keeping track of what we did in what timeline, and who needs to do what. Each year I just bring up the task list and have a lunch with anyone wanting to help, and the rest takes care of itself. The most stressful part is hoping everyone will pay me and show up. Each year I stress out about a week before the Luncheon, then by the Luncheon date everyone pays and shows up and fun is had by ALL!! (Even me)! So next year if you hear of me stressing out about a week before the luncheon, just remind me that it will end up just fine. Have FAITH!!
Each evening I can hear the Canadian Geese fly over. Those Canadians sure are a noisy bunch!! It sounds good to me. It means Fall is heading this way and the Geese are coming closer to home for the Winter. The mornings are foggy and I can lay in bed hearing the fog horns from the Admiralty Inlet. It won't be long before we get our first frost then the Storms. I love this time of year.

Wearing headphones for just an hour will increase the bacteria in your ear by 700 times.

She's home

Mary Lou came home today, and she is doing MUCH better.
I will let her post the news on her blog: http://www.whidbeydreamer.blogspot.com/ .
I am going to be a busy little bee tomorrow. We are hosting an AA women's luncheon at the CPO club in Oak Harbor.

I estimate 100 or more gals showing up. I need to be at the door greeting everyone and making sure they paid or letting some in that doesn't have the money to pay. (We have some gals pay for two just in case one doesn't have the money to come). Fun will be had by everyone there!
I can't post pictures because it is ANONYMOUS! A secret club, how exciting, huh?
Then tomorrow night a friend I sponsor will be the speaker at a different meeting. I won't get home until around 10:00 or so.
Enjoy the weekend!!

Rats multiply so quickly that in 18 months, two rats could have over a million descendants.

Well that is more than I want to know.

UH-OH...Guess where my sis has been all day!

I got a call this morning from my sister asking me if I could get away from work for 1/2 hour and drive her to the hospital. She hasn't been feeling well and called her doctor this morning and.....well I'll let her tell the story. The bottom line is, she is in the hospital for a day or two for tests, and is doing just fine.
(Whidbey General Hospital 360-678-5151 room 18).
I took this picture and told her I was putting it in my blog hehehe I took her a robe and slippers. She will probably be home tomorrow night or Thursday morning.


Did you know.....A shrimp's heart is in its head.
Whaaaa?

I was making my bed yesterday morning and the phone rang. I came back and found a huge lump in the bed! Well of course it was Elliott, making a dull humdrum depressing day into fun and joy!
I lifted the blanket and he wanted to "play"! I wanted to get my chores done but nope....not now!

He was adorable for a few minutes longer then I decided to let him stay there for awhile and take a cat nap.

How in the world can someone not get joy from a cat like him? I spoil my cats rotten, and they give me back much needed love and joy. It balances out just fine.
Ahhh, I have another day off today!

The "sixth sick sheik's sixth sheep's sick" is said to be the toughest tongue twister in the English language. Okay, say that real fast three times!